Planooraph co



l. R. McLAUGHLlN.

LAST.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV- 22, I911- Patented July 22, 1919.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH (10-, WASHINGTON, D. C.

JOHN R. McLAUG-HLI'N', 0F HOLIBROOK, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAST:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed November 22, 1517, Serial No. 203,376.

To all whom'z't may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN, R. MoLAUoH- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holbrook, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Lasts, of which; the following description, in. connection; with the accompanying'drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the severalrrfigures,

It is the universal practice to use-asewing machine of the, curved: needle type to perform the outsole stitching operation on welt and stitch down shoes since practically all styles of shoes are so deeply cutin at the shank that a straight needle machine cannot operate satisfactorily along this portion of. the shoe. At the same time the advantages of a straight needle sewing machine as compared with a curved} needle machine, such for instance, as the reduced expense of straight needles and the lessened liability of their springing while in use, are Well understood by those skilled in this art.

- It is considered essential to good shoe making to perform the outsole stitching operation while the last is in, the-shoe, and the 7 present invention aimsto devise a last suitable for use in the manufzmture of welt and stitch down shoes which will permit the use of a straight needle sewing machinein securing the outsole to the shoe. The invention also aims to accomplish this result with.- out sacrificing the style and attractive appearance of the shoe which the lasts, now commonly used give to it.

The manner in which it is proposed to accomplish these objects and the various fear turesof the invention: will be readily understood from the following description, refer; ence; being made to the. accompanying drawings, in which, 1 a

Figure 1 is a sideelevation: of a: last; em.- bodying this invention;

. Fig.v 2is a side elevation of a removable portion of the last shown. in Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the last; shown in Fig. 1 asit appears when the part shown in. fig. 2, is removed therefrom; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse, cross sectional view on. thfelline 4 4, Fig. 1

The last shown in Fig. 1 comprises a forepart or toe portion A, an intermediate por-' tion 13 and a heel portion C. The toe and heel portions A and C, respectlvely, are connected together by a metal plate which preferably consistsof two sections, a and b, hinged together at d. The intermediate, portion B normally fits between the parts A and Gto complete the last but is arranged to be removed therefrom while the last is in the shoe. For the purpose of holding the intermediate part B inits cooperative relationship to the parts A and C, the section a of theplate is provided with a post 79, designed to enter a slot 7;, Fig. 3, in the forward part of the section B,and another post it secured in the upper partof the heel part G is designed to enter a hole h, Fig. 3, in the part and cooperate with the post p to maintain the intermediate section 'B in its normal position. A recess 9 cut in the bottom of the intermediate section B receives the hinge (Z when the section B is in its normal position.

This last is designed to be used in the ordinary manner in manufacturing a shoe up-to the time that the shoe is ready for the outsole stitching operation. At this time the intermediate section B is removed leaving the partslA and C in their normal positions in the shoe, in, which positions they are-held by the plate that connects them. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1 that a space D is provided between the rear surface eof the section B and the forward surface 7 of the heel part C, so that no interference occurs between these two sections during the; operation of withdrawing the intermediate sectionfrom. the shoe. It will also be seen that the intermediate section B contains the upper supporting surfaces which overhang the tread face of the last and which would, interfere with the use of a straight needle sewing machine. In other words, the removal of this section removes all lateral support for the upper of the shoe inthe region of the shank. In fact, except for the strip opposite the plate sections a and b. and which is so narrow as to benegligible, the upper has no lateral support from a. point in the heel portion of the shoe to a point in front of the shank of the shoe. Consequently, the operator, in presenting the shoe to the outsole stitcher, can press these parts of the upper inwardly far enough to move them entirely out of the positions in which they would interfere with g stantially at right angles to the tread face of the last so that they not only do not interfere with the outsole stitching operation but facilitate this operation since these surfaces adjacent to the tread face of the last may be utilized to guide the sewing instrumentalities during the outsole stitching operation. Since the part A, supporting the too and instep surfaces of the upper, and the part C at the heel, are held rigidly 1n properly spaced relationship by the metal plate sections a and b, and since these sections form a rigid support for the bottom of the shoe, the last gives the shoe all the support that it requires during this operation. The hinging of the two sections of the plate toether between the toe and heel parts of the fast facilities, the insertion of the last in a shoe-and its removal therefrom.

After the outsole stitching operation has been completed the intermediate. section B may be replaced in the shoe and the manufacture of the shoe continued in the usual manner. It is obvious that, if desired, the shoe might be made on an ordinary last and this last replaced by'rthe last shown in Fig. 3, just before the outsole stitching operation is begun. After the completion of V- the outsole stitching 3 0 operation the intermediate section B could be placed in the f lastin the shoe and the manufacture of the shoe continued on this last, or the last shown in Fig. 3- could be withdrawn and replaced again by the last on which the making operations have been performed up to the outsole stitching operation.

What is claimed as new is: r

1. A last, having a toe portion, a heel portion,- a plate, connecting said too and heel portions and forming the bottom of the last, said plate being operative to'hold said portions in cooperating relationship 'with each other, and an intermediate last portion constructed to fit between saidtoe and heel portions to complete the last, said intermediate portion including the entire shank portion of, the last above said plate and being'constructed and arranged to be removed while the last is in the shoe, leav ing said toe and heel portions in their nor 'mal positions in the shoe.

- 2. A last, comprising a forepart having toe and instep supporting surfaces, a heel portion, and a plate connecting said toe and heel portions and forming the bottom -of the last, said toe and heel portions being space lying opposite the,

separated by a shank portion of the shoe for which the last is intended. i i i 3. A last, comprising a forepart having Copies o1 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0. V I

toe and instep supporting surfaces, a heel portion, and a plate connecting said toe and heel portions and forming the bottom of the "last, said toe and heel portions being separated by a space lying opposite the shank portionof the shoe for which the last is ranged 'tohold them in cooperative relationship to each other but to leave the upper of the shoe in which the last is positioned withoutlateral support in the region of the shank.

5. A last, having a toe portion, a heel portion, a plate connecting said toe and heel portions a portion of the tread face of the last, and a removable intermediate part including the shank portion of the last constructed and arranged to be removably supported between said toe and heel portions, the sides of said toe and heel portions adjacent to the tread face ofthe last and the edge surfaces of said plate extending approximately at right angles'to the tread face of the last. I

6. A last comprising a forepart, a heel part, means connectmg sald parts for relat1ve swmging movement to collapse or eX- tend the last and constructed and arranged to hold said fore and heel parts in cooperative relationship" to each other but to leave the upper ofthe shoe in which the last is positioned without lateral support" in the region of the shank, and an intermediate last portion constructed to fit between said fore and heel parts to complete'the lastand arranged to be inserted in its operative position or removed therefrom while the last is in the shoe. a 7

7, A last havinga forep'art, a heel part spaced from the forepart, a plate connecting said parts and forming the bottom of the last, and an intermediate portion constructedto fit between said toe and heel portions and containing the upper supporting surfaces of the last that overhang the "edges of said plate in the region of the shank of the shoe, said intermediate portion being constructed and arranged to be inserted in its operative position or removed therefrom while the last is in a shoe, with out disturbing said fore and heelparts.

In testimony whereof I have-signed my name 7 to this specification.

JOHN R. MGLAUGHLIN.

Commissioner of Patents,

andhaving a surface forming 

